Learning English goes digital in rural UP

Soon after the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government to introduce English from Class I in government schools, the corporate world is now set to convert the demand of learning the language into a business opportunity.

Bangalore-based Comat Technologies Pvt Ltd has decided to initiate e-learning English classes through compact discs and VSAT in the villages of UP.

Sensing the state as a potential market, the company will establish rural centres in various parts of the state by September 2008 and then start the e-classes by year end at the centres.

“Our decision to enter the UP market is well deliberated. There is a huge demand to learn the language in the hinterland,” said Rathi Gangadhar of the Comat Technologies.

“Two computers will be installed at each centre to be connected with Internet through VSAT. Later, other courses could also be taken up like coaching classes for engineering, which already heavy been a big success in Karnataka and Haryana,” she said.

Considering that the erratic power supply could be a major hurdle in the implementation of the project in UP, 24-hour power backup for the computers has been included in the set-up cost by the company.

The fee of the course is expected to be between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000, depending on the course undertaken by the students. A short-term course on compact discs, for instance, will cost less than a four-month course on VSAT. For courses provided through VSAT, a village classroom will be connected to specialised centres in other parts of the country, enabling the students to interact with their teacher through video conferencing.

Though it is still to be seen how many villagers will pay the given amount for a course, the company is

optimistic and claims that their survey reveals that people are ready to shell out the amount to learn the language.

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